Cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT), is a painless test that uses an x-ray machine to take clear, detailed pictures of the heart. During a cardiac CT scan, an x-ray machine will move around your body in a circle. The machine will take a picture of each part of your heart. A computer will put the pictures together to make a three-dimensional (3D) picture of the whole heart. Sometimes an iodine-based dye (contrast dye) is injected into one of your veins during the scan. The contrast dye travels through your blood vessels, which helps highlight them on the x-ray pictures. Since an x-ray machine is used, cardiac CT involves radiation. Although the amount of radiation used is considered small. The new cardiac CT methods are available that reduce the amount of radiation used for this test.

o Chronic kidney disease: Iodinated intravenous contrast is used and may worsen kidney function. For all diabetics and any patient 65 or older, the lab requires an evaluation of renal function (creatinine) within three months of performing the cardiac CT. Patients with renal insufficiency should be prescribed a renal-protective agent (e.g. intravenous normal saline).

o Patient is currently in irregular or rapid heart rate particularly over 75 beats per minute

o Patients allergic to iodinated intravenous contrast

o Pregnancy

Are there any dangers of dye injection?

0.5% percent of patients may get nausea and redness of the skin. Though severe reactions are known, these are very rare and uncommon.

What would you expect before Cardiac CT examination?

o 4 hours fasting before the procedure

o Stabilization of heart rate with a beta-blocker

o Getting all old cardiac related information

What would I experience during Cardiac CT examination?

Once the heart rate is stabilized

o A vein is cannulated

o Breathing instructions are given so that the patient can hold his/her breath for around 12 seconds

o A calcium scoring study is performed

o The “dye” is injected and the angiogram study is performed. The angiogram time is 10-12 seconds.

o The entire procedure takes between 15–60 minutes depending on the heart rate.

What would you expect after the Cardiac CT examination?

o After examination you are allow to drink regular water or any kind of food